Final night time, the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder pulled off the 123-118 upset victory on the highway to maintain their playoff hopes alive. The NBA’s youngest workforce by common age continues to point out that they’re on the verge of one thing particular. Their franchise is about up for fulfillment within the current and sooner or later with their draft capital. Stellar guard play took over for the Thunder final night time. They’re the primary workforce to have at the least three gamers rating 25+ factors in a play-in sport.
OKC’s win gave them an opportunity to increase their season a bit longer if they’ll pull off one other upset win tomorrow vs the Minnesota Timberwolves. Shai Gilegeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, and Lu Dort mixed for 90 factors final night time and all three scored at the least 25.
They had been down 63-57 on the half, however had a powerful third quarter and held on within the fourth with some clutch photographs by SGA. NBA betting websites have the Thunder at (+158) to win vs the Timberwolves tomorrow within the win-or-go-home to earn the #8 seed.
The Thunder ship the Pelicans packing behind huge video games from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, & Luguentz Dort.
🏀SGA: 32 Pts🏀Giddey: 31🏀Dort: 27
OKC is the primary workforce with 3 25-point scorers in a play-in sport. OKC did this as soon as within the common season (March 28 vs CHA). pic.twitter.com/qvhC6uO1TS
— ESPN Stats & Information (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 13, 2023
OKC’s guard trio mixed for 90 factors final night time in a 123-118 win vs the New Orleans Pelicans
The second half is the place the Thunder took over final night time and it was particularly the third quarter the place they outscored the Pelicans, 39-24. Shai Gilegeous-Alexander scored 17 of his 32 factors within the third final night time whereas the Pelicans solely scored 24 factors complete that quarter. SGA additionally grabbed 5 rebounds and dished out 3 assists in 41 minutes performed.
Gilgeous-Alexander will get a whole lot of reward for being the very best participant on the Thunder this yr. They might not have been in a position to get the win final night time if not for Josh Giddey’s near-triple-double efficiency. He completed the sport with 31 factors, 9 rebounds, and 10 assists. Each SGA and himself went 11-22 from the sector and every made at the least six free throws.
Ending up the elite guard play final night time for the Thunder was Lu Dort. He completed the sport with 27 factors and 5 rebounds whereas going 4-8 from deep. The Thunder will journey to Minnesota tomorrow to face the Timberwolves at 9:30 pm EST.